How to Get a Vizio TV to Show the Full Screen Picture

A significant number of today's broadcasters still broadcast programs that were originally filmed or videotaped in the 4:3 aspect ratio with black bars appearing on the sides of the TV viewing area. Others broadcast major motion pictures in what has become known as the letterbox mode where the image appears with black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. Vizio's latest and most popular flat screen TVs include the M-series and the slightly more economically priced E-series. Both possess numerous features and provide state-of-the-art video and audio, which include the ability to adjust the aspect ratio of the incoming TV signal to eliminate most, if not all the blank area on the sides and top of the image.

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The M- Series

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Turn on your M-series Vizio TV with your remote control.

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Press the "Aspect Ratio" button on the remote, located in the middle of the remote between the mute button and the 3D button which opens the Aspect Ratio Settings page.

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Select the aspect ratio that applies to the video image you want to view in full-screen. Use the arrow buttons on the remote to highlight your choice and click "OK" in the center of the remote control.

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Choose "Normal" to keep the original aspect ratio, so as not to stretch the content; in the 4:3 ratio images appear with black bars on either side. Choose "Wide" to stretch the image to fill the screen.

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Choose "Stretch" to fill the screen when you are watching 720p/1080i programs; select "Panoramic" which fills the screen if you are viewing 480i/480p videos.

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Select "Zoom" to eliminate the black bars on the sides, bottom and top of the screen.

The E-Series

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Turn on your E-series Vizio TV with your remote control.

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Press the "Wide" button located at the lower left-hand corner of the remote.

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Select the aspect ratio that applies to the video image you want to view in full-screen by using the arrow buttons on the remote and pushing the "OK" button to select your choice.

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Choose "Normal" to keep the original aspect ratio, so as not to stretch the content; in the 4:3 ratio images appear with black bars on either side. Choose "Wide" to stretch the image to fill the screen.

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Choose "Stretch" to fill the screen when you are watching 720p/1080i programs; select "Panoramic" which fills the screen if you are viewing 480i/480p videos.

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Select "Zoom" to eliminate the black bars on the sides, bottom and top of the screen.